A MAN was jailed yesterday after stabbing a man outside a North Wales hospital's casualty unit.

Anthony Jenkins was given six years in prison for the attack at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

A judge warned about knife culture, which he said the government was trying to curb.

"In North Wales, in the last 12 months, four young men have died from stab wounds and as a result four young men have been convicted of murder," Judge John Rogers QC told him at Caernarfon Crown Court.

"If you had contested this matter and been convicted, I would have given you 10 years."

Jenkins, 26, of Rosemary Lane, Denbigh, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent in the incident last March.

Steven Everett, prosecuting, said victim Anthony Coren suffered a stab wound to the centre of the chest, which led to a collapsed a lung and was forcible enough to fracture a rib. It had also pierced an artery and blood had pumped from the injury.

Because it had happened right outside the hospital entrance, he was able to have immediate treatment and there appeared to have been no long-term damage.

Jenkins had told police: "I had only gone to see how my son was when I was confronted by three heavies - they had nothing to do with this."

Mr Everett explained earlier Jenkins had been in a row with his girlfriend in a supermarket cafe, had swiped all the crockery off a table and a plate had hit the head of their son.